JD3520 will not start

[kenjal]

Hi all -
first thread here. this forum is a wealth of info, however I have not been able to find any info on the problem I am having using the search.
my 3 year old jd3520 will not start, at first I thought it was a dead battery but after charging on the battery charger it was not the problem. what's happening is that when the key is turned on there's a clicking noise in the guage cluster and the idiot lights all flash off and on. that's all it does. the starter doesn't try to crank. nothing. just the noise in the dash and the idiot lights flash off and on. no error codes. nothing. fuses are all ok. has fuel. battery is charged. i called the jd dealer, 45 miles away & $80 per hour service call, and he is going to fax me a wire schematic. but he doesn't know what the problem could be. the tractor has the ehydro trans and is the 3520 model. no problems up to date and has about 300 hrs.
any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
thanks,
Ken

 

[B8FISH]

I would try another battery. I think I've read other posts about batteries not getting a full charge--and 3 years is on the edge of possible replacement. Also check the voltage flowing at various points along the system--a good search will yield you some past posts about specific points and methods. Good luck!!

 

[Patches]

You want to make absolutely sure your connections are "CLEAN" and tight; both on the battery and where they connect to the chassis ground and the starter solenoid. When it comes to starting problems, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness"; absolutely necessary

 

[bota7800]

My sympathies, I am fighting starting problems too.

Does your starter have a Bendix gear? I am not sure if the little ones on tractors are the same, but I had those symptoms once where the spring was not moving the gear out to contact the flywheel. In my case it was on a Cessna, but the starter was the same as automobile starters. When I lubed the starter I could get a couple starts out of it.

 

[kenjal]

thanks for the quick replies. all connections are clean. that's the first thing i did before i put the charger to it.
don't know if the starter is bendix geared or not.
the thing is, the tractor had been used five days before. no start problems whatsoever. never since i've had it.
i don't think if it was a battery problem that the lights on the dash would all flash off and on and the rpm, mph, fuel guage would peg out to their max if it was a battery problem?? and the tractor isn't even trying to start, nothing is getting to the starter. that's what i feel with my limited knowledge. i could be totally wrong. not the first time.
that's why i'm asking you guys in this forum.

thanks,
Ken

 

[jsboening]

Check the battery with a volt meter. It may have a dead cell in it so it may only have 10 volts or so. Just charging it doesn't grantee 12 volts.

 

[soulasphil]

I also have a 3520, the powerreverser variety, not hydrostatic like yours, but the same stupid computer. From what you describe, the failure to start doesn't seem to have to do with battery or starter. IMHO it looks like some safety switch playing tricks. I've already been caught with "nEutOF" when I tried to start the engine with the transmission engaged, your trouble seems very much alike.

 

[John_in_TN]

Have you tried to jump-start it with a known good battery. When my 3520 hydro was less than two years old it developed one dead cell in the battery and it acted just as you describe. My battery charger showed the battery fully charged, but I was only getting "clicks" and "blinking dash lights" when I attempted to start it. Installed new battery and eveything has been great since. Good luck!

 

[irwin]

thanks for the quick replies. all connections are clean. that's the first thing i did before i put the charger to it.
don't know if the starter is bendix geared or not.
the thing is, the tractor had been used five days before. no start problems whatsoever. never since i've had it.
i don't think if it was a battery problem that the lights on the dash would all flash off and on and the rpm, mph, fuel guage would peg out to their max if it was a battery problem?? and the tractor isn't even trying to start, nothing is getting to the starter. that's what i feel with my limited knowledge. i could be totally wrong. not the first time.
that's why i'm asking you guys in this forum.

thanks,
Ken

Yes those things can happen with a bad battery.
Now I'm not saying it is a battery issue..but, I'd get a known good battery in there before I did anything else.

BTW, I run an auto repair shop.

 

[tugboat-2]

First of all Kenjal,...let me say WELCOME Aboard! I agree that because you have enough juice to do the electrical things on the dash but it is NOT doing anything else,..such as click at the starter or when you turn the key the dash lights dim out, which shows it is making the connections OK, but battery is weak under load, (I assume these are true?), . . then I would agree with the idea Soulasphil from France mentioned regarding the "safety-switches" and things of that nature which have disconnected the starter temporarily.

Have you tried the simple things that are often to blame such as: bouncing the seat to ensure the seat safety switch isn't stuck,(or lifting the seat to check the switch)..also try wiggling both your "motion-pedals", as if they are not perfect the starter disconnects, . . and any other safety type things you can think of.

Get your manual out and read through looking for the various safety items as I strongly suspect one of those is at fault. Please keep us posted. If I think of something else I'll get back to you. I also have a 2006 JD-3520-Cab.

Good luck to you,
. . tug